I am directed by the Minister for External Affairs to refer to your minute (W.21015/44) of the 4th March¹, regarding the aerial system for the proposed short-wave station.

The Minister for External Affairs inclines to the view that the original order of priority laid down by the Government should be adhered to and that a service to Australia and the Pacific area should be provided before a service to the European Continent is undertaken. While appreciating the considerations in favour of establishing a European service, the Minister feels that the language problems involved in such a service, coupled with the fact that the type of programme required would probably differ materially from that considered suitable for countries like the United States and Australia in which there are large numbers of our own people, constitute strong arguments in favour of the original arrangement which gave the Australian priority over the European area.

The Minister assumes that a reasonable standard of reception in Australia can be obtained. If this assumption were not correct, and if good reception in Europe were assured whereas good reception in Australia were doubtful, the Minister would be disposed to reconsider his view.